Astro-ufa Sports joint venture a boost for sepaktakraw

KUCHING: Astro and UFA Sports Asia have announced yesterday the launch of Asia Sports Ventures, a new strategic joint venture established to undertake the development and global commercialisation of the sport of Sepaktakraw.

“UFA Sports Asia is delighted to partner with Malaysia’s leading sports proponent – an organisation that shares our passion for and belief in the uncut diamond that is Sepaktakraw,” said Jef f Chue, Managing Director of UFA Sports Asia.

“This venture is a critical step forward in our strategy to grow the business of Sepaktakraw and demonstrates our long-term commitment to the sport.

“One of the key objectives is to produce, own and develop Sepaktakraw assets worldwide, which includes holding exclusive global rights to the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) tournaments, and the Persatuan S ep a k t a k r aw M a l ays i a ( Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia) tournaments in Malaysia.”

Henry Tan, Chief Operating Of f icer of Astro, said, “As Malaysia’s and South East Asia’s leading consumer media group, Astro is committed to bringing the best of sports from the region to our viewers. Sepaktakraw is an extraordinary sport with origins in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

With a huge fol lowing in Malaysia, Sepaktakraw is gaining popularity not only in Asia but also in North America and Japan.

We identified the potential in Sepaktakraw, hence, made a strategic investment in Asia Sports Ventures with UFA Sports Asia to own, develop, and market Sepaktakraw.”

Asia Sports Ventures is based in Singapore and will leverage on its respective holding companies’ networks, infrastructure, regional connections and production know-how.

It will be managed by a joint board comprising members of senior management from UFA Sports Asia and Astro.

For more details, interested parties can contact : Naza Lagiman, Head of Corporate Services, Asia Sports Ventures Pte. Ltd. ( Tel: + 65 6884 5013, Email: naza.lagiman@ asvworld. com) or Ong Hsieh Lien, AVP Stakeholder Communications, Astro ( Tel: 03- 9543 6688 ext 2625 Email: hsieh-lien_ ong@ astro. com.my)